IRCC Deputy Minister Transition Binder 2022: Parliamentary Landscape

Overview

July 2022

Parliamentary Environment

• Purpose is to provide you an overview of the parliamentary environment for fall 2022, and implications for IRCC.

The minority parliament context leaves the department more vulnerable to undertakings, the Minister and IRCC officials being requested to appear before committee, Motions for Production of Papers and requests for information, and other miscellaneous requests that place pressure on our officials.

Overview of Parliamentary Affairs at IRCC

• The Parliamentary Affairs Unit (PAU) supports the Minister, the Parliamentary Secretary, the Deputy Minister and senior officials by providing advice and coordination services to meet parliamentary requirements and accountabilities, and to advance the Department’s strategic policy agenda through Parliament.
• PAU also leads the coordination of committee briefings and appearances, parliamentary returns, and legislative planning and coordination.
• When Parliament is in session, PAU is responsible for keeping the Department apprised of all pertinent business occurring in both Chambers. This is done via departmental “morning update” emails or on an adhoc basis, as needed.
• The team performs parliamentary outreach activities with MPs, Senators, Central Agencies and other Governmental Departments. For example, IRCC has co-hosted the past two Intergovernmental Parliamentary Affairs Summits. The Summit allows Parliamentary Affairs teams from all departments and agencies to connect and share best practices across the field.

Did you know?

PAU acts as a liaison between the Department and Parliament.

Parliamentary Committees

• Since April 1, 2022, IRCC has appeared 14 times at Committees and sometimes with very short notice.
• The Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration (CIMM) recent studies:
  • Application Backlogs and Processing Times: Report to be tabled and a request for a Government Response (GR) is expected
  • Differential Treatment in Recruitment and Acceptance Rates of Foreign Student in Quebec and Rest of Canada: Tabled in the House and a GR has been requested.
• There is a trend for CIMM members to request more undertakings rather than allow the witnesses to answer questions, resulting in an increase in undertakings.
• Other standing committee studies implicating IRCC in fall 2022 include:
  • LANG C-13 An Act for the Substantive Equality of Canada's Official Languages. A Ministerial and departmental official appearance is anticipated in the fall.
  • PACP Report 2—Processing of Asylum Claims, of the 2019 Spring Reports of the Auditor General of Canada. A appearance with the Deputy Minister is anticipated for the fall.
• The department is also inputting into a variety of Government Responses from other committees:
  • AFGH: Honouring Canada’s Legacy in Afghanistan (November 5)
  • AGRI: Confronting Urgent Challenges and Building the Resilience of the Canadian Food Supply Chain (November 5).

Did you know?

Undertakings for 2021/22 totaled 61, however 50 were requested in February and March (2020-21 totaled 59)

Legislation

• We anticipate the fall legislative agenda will continue to be quite busy.
• IRCC is included in various Government Legislation which may receive Royal Assent prior to the summer adjournment (i.e. C-19 and S-6) while others will continue in the fall.
• IRCC has also been implicated on a variety of Private Members Business.
• Amendment analysis and providing support to the Minister’s Office has been extensive under very short timelines.

Tablings: Parliamentary Returns, Reports and Responses

Returns

• It is expected that the sustained volume of parliamentary returns will continue in the fall as opposition interest in receiving detailed information from the department through various avenues.
• The potential for Motions for the Production of Papers will continue in the fall.

IRCC’s report tabling obligations will be busy in the fall.

• Annual Reports:
  • 2021-2022 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy (DSDS) Progress Report (October 5)
  • Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration (on or before November 1)
  • Annual Report to Parliament on the Administration of the Access to Information Act and Privacy Act (within first 15 siting days)
  • Departmental Fees Annual Report (TBS lead on timing – typically October to December)
• Other Reports:
  • PMB M-44: Develop and release a plan to expand pathways to permanent residency for temporary foreign workers (September 9)
  • Government Response to CIMM Differential Treatment in Recruitment and Acceptance Rates of Foreign Students in Quebec and Rest of Canada (September 28)

Did you know?

Parliamentary Returns in 2021/22 totaled 222, up from 195 in 2020/21